Student Life


Every school day, students and teachers gather together for a family-style lunch in the refectory, the physical and symbolic heart of the school.
Lunch in our dining hall provides an opportunity to relax with friends and meet students in other grades while partaking in lively conversations and enjoying a tasty and nourishing meal. Throughout the year, students rotate to different teachers’ tables so that each boy truly gets to know—and be known by—the faculty. The tradition goes back decades—and remains a beloved memory among alumni.

St. Albans’ history surrounds the boys as they eat. The names and pictures of every graduate cover the refectory walls, reminding the boys that they are part of something much bigger than themselves. They are part of a family that spans more than a century. Family-style lunches have become a tradition at St. Albans because of a belief that the best in a boy emerges when he knows that he has the support of his peers and teachers.

This philosophy underlies everything at St. Albans. Healthy and positive relationships create a community in which boys flourish. Playful table games (“Recite for me, the table master, the worst poem that you can craft. The best poets will have to clear the table.”)—and lively debates cultivate a spirit of camaraderie that bridges lectern, desk, sideline, and stage. That’s why lunch isn’t just lunch at St. Albans. It is so much more.